Chapter Four: Surprise

Nora awoke the next morning with a start. She gasped and sat straight up on the cot, looking at her surroundings in confusion. She quickly stood up and turned on the lights. The trail of bloody gauze and abandoned desk chair brought the memories of the night before flooding back into her mind. Ugh, so it did really happen. She didn't want to risk anyone finding a trace of evidence left behind from what had transpired. She had to clean thoroughly.

Well, I guess I'll get the bleach. Nora pulled her hair into a small ponytail, donned a pair of gloves, and started cleaning. After scrubbing the treatment room floor and the radiology machine, she made her way into the wrecked surgical suite. She picked up everything disposable and stuffed it in a biohazard bag, then she went to grab the metal tools from the stand. The glass shard she pulled from the Joker's chest was glistening in the light, dried blood painting its sharp edge. She stopped and picked it up. It was unbelievable. A Gotham city veterinarian successfully treated it's most notorious criminal for a pneumothorax and open chest wound by herself, in the middle of the night. Then he left, leaving her without a scratch.

A shiver ran down Nora's spine. She remembered Joker's so-called 'surprise' for her. Possibility after horrifying possibility ran through her head. Would he make her life a living hell? Or would he actually give her something she needed? Just keep your head down and don't attract attention. The cops were not an option. The Joker wasn't the only one who was true to his word and she didn't trust the GCPD anyway. They claim to keep the citizens of Gotham safe but were known for using excessive force and biased profiling practices.

She thought it through as she scrubbed away the Joker's blood from the surgical table. Maybe she could flee the city. But she had no living relatives and not enough savings to make it possible. What about hiding? But where could she hide? Joker probably knew this city better than everyone anyway and she certainly didn't want to get anyone else involved, that would get messy. Or she could wait for the Joker. She could wait and be ready for him. If he was going to hurt her or even kill her maybe she could fight back. She had access to drugs that could kill. The thought of using them on someone made her feel sick but she couldn't just leave herself defenseless and she had never used a gun before. Plus, buying a gun wasn't a great way to lay low.

By the time the metal table was spotless, without a hint of DNA, Nora had made up her mind. She was going to go on about her business, like nothing happened and wait for Joker to find her. She'd keep a syringe of Pentobarbital, primed and ready to go, with her at all times and if danger reared its ugly head, she'd sink the needle deep into his thigh and push the plunger. She didn't want to kill him, though. After everything that happened last night, she felt strange. It was a feeling of both dread and anticipation. It tied her guts in knots. It wasn't clear why she felt this way but it seemed like she was drawn to him. A carefree sense of freedom seemed to emanate from him and it was contagious. It was that dark desire to drop everything and fuck the world that fucked you right back. No, that was crazy. She shoved that feeling away and buried it deep, to suffocate in the back of her mind.

Before leaving the sanitized room, Nora carefully wrapped the bloodied glass in a small rag and tucked it away in her pocket. A souvenir.

After scrubbing the used instruments and disposing of everything in the biohazard bin, she stopped and stood in front of her locked drug box. Her heart pounded as she stared at it. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys, her hand shaking. She bit her lip and jammed the little key into the lock. The lid of the box flew open and she grabbed the bottle of noxious liquid. Slowly, she stuck a needle in the bottle and drew out five milliliters. That should be plenty. Once she had replaced the cap on the syringe and slipped it into her sock, she headed for the door.

Nora locked up and finally made her way back to her apartment. Her bus ride was anything but peaceful. She felt incredibly tense. What if he was watching her now? He knew where she worked, it would be easy enough to have her followed. She eyed every passenger, trying not to look paranoid. Deep breaths. He's not gonna do anything in broad daylight.

Twenty agonizing minutes later, the bus reached her stop. She quickly deboarded and nearly tripped over the last step in the process. Yeah, real subtle. The walk to her building was only three blocks. She looked over her shoulder every thirty seconds or so until her hand reached for the front door handle of the old six story building. After making sure she hadn't been followed inside, she stopped in the lobby. Elevator or stairs? She lived on the sixth floor. It was much more likely that she'd run into someone, maybe someone she didn't want to run into, in the stairwell but on the elevator she'd be trapped. She'd just have to make sure she rode the elevator alone. Her finger pressed the button and she bounced on the soles of her feet with impatience. The door opened and she practically ran inside. She frantically hit the button to close the door over and over, her stomach doing somersaults. What if he knows where I live?

"Wait! Hold the door!" a voice called from the lobby. Nora knew that voice. It was her neighbor, Leann. She groaned in frustration and stuck her foot out to catch the door as it slid to close. A red-haired woman balancing a toddler on one hip and a bag of groceries on the other came rushing in. "Ah, Nora! Thank you," she panted.

Nora forced a smile, "No problem, Leann. Can I help you with your bag?"

"You're such a sweetheart! Nah, that's ok, I never make it to the gym so this is the only form of exercise I get!" she chuckled. "How are you?"

Nora was in no mood for small talk but she had to act natural. "O-Oh I'm good. Just enjoying my day off," she lied.

The woman looked confused. "Oh, I assumed you were working since you're in your scrubs," she said, gesturing to Nora's wrinkled medical attire.

She looked down. Ah shit. She let out an awkward laugh and said, "Ahh well I had an urgent case come in last night so I slept at the clinic, didn't want to take the bus late at night."

A look of sympathy fell over Leann's face. "Aw babe, I'm sorry you have to work so much. Worth it to save lives though, right?" she said.

Her heart leapt into her throat and Nora tried to keep up her fake smile as she responded, "Y-Yeah, definitely!"

The elevator door mercifully opened to their floor and the two women exited into the hall. Once they reached their doors, across from each other, the little boy in Leann's arms began to hiccup and cry. "Well dear, duty calls. Get some rest ok?" her neighbor said, turning the key in her door. It felt like a jolt of electricity ran through Nora's body.

'Joker? Get some rest.'

'You too, doll.' His voice echoed in her ears.

"Th-Thanks, Leann. I'll try," she said, her voice cracking. The door across from her closed and the sound of a baby's cries grew faint. Nora took in a deep, shaky breath.

Pins and needles buzzed in her hands as she inserted her key into the lock on her door. The anxiety gripping her body made it difficult to turn the handle. She slowly turned her wrist and gently pushed the door open. She stepped in. The silence was drowned out by the rushing of the blood in Nora's ears as she peered down the short hall toward her living room. She tip-toed quietly to peek around the edge of the wall. Nothing. No sign that anyone was or had been here since she last left. Warm sunlight streamed through the windows. Her eyes scanned around the small apartment, through the living room and attached kitchen, waiting to find something out of place. My bedroom. Her stomach dropped when she looked toward her bedroom, the door half open. She cautiously approached it. Once outside the door way, she heard a little *thump* hit the floor. Her hand shot up and she flung the door open.

"Bowie!" she exclaimed.

A petite tabby cat blinked her large eyes at Nora, swishing her tail in the air. Nora put her hand to her chest and closed her eyes, catching her breath. "Jesus Christ, it's just you. Shit, girl, don't scare me like that!" The feline began circling herself around Nora's legs and rubbing her face on her pants. "Aw, I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean it," she said as she pet bent down to pet her. "I'm glad I left extra food out yesterday. You want some breakfast?" she asked her cat. The tabby meowed loudly and trotted toward the small kitchen. Nora smiled and followed. After providing Bowie with fresh food and water, Nora sighed and put her hands on her hips. I really need to get a grip.

Would it be so bad if the Joker showed up? He was a criminal but he didn't hurt her. He had the opportunity and he didn't. That kind of thinking was dangerous but so was what she did last night. Lost in her thoughts, she slowly paced the room. As she made her way around the counter, she noticed a small package on her kitchen table amongst the littered billing statements and envelopes. It was wrapped in brown paper and a red ribbon tied in a bow. Nora froze for a few seconds and stared at it. Who else could have left that here? She warily approached the table, her pulse racing. So he does know where I live.

Nora was suddenly overcome with curiosity and without regard for her own safety, she took hold of the ribbon's loose end and pulled. The paper over the parcel fell away to reveal a stack of money. One hundred dollar bills. Nora gasped and her eyes opened wide. Tucked under the band holding the bills together was a Joker card. She gently slid it out and held it up to the sunlight. Handwritten on the card, it read, "For my dear doctor. You work for me now."

Nora panicked. Where did the money come from? Most likely it was stolen. But where could she take it? She already decided not to involve the police and this didn't change that. She needed that money and desperation is a powerful thing. After the shock wore off, she decided to think it over and stashed it, along with the glass, away in a safe place. That was over a week ago.

For the past ten days, Nora had been anticipating another visit from the Joker. But, he hadn't come yet. Nor had she heard anything about him on the news. Things with the people of Gotham relaxed a bit and the weather cooled off, but there was still a bit of tension in the air, not like that wasn't typical for this city. She'd been thinking about what he had written on the card a lot. My dear doctor. Work for me now. She thought about it so much she could almost hear his voice speaking it in her head. She wasn't stupid. She knew it meant the Joker wanted her as part of his team but why? Sure, she saved him but does he need medical attention that often? Maybe he does. And why would he pay her when he could just kidnap her and force her to work for him? Or was there some other motive that Nora couldn't think of. But anyone who tried to understand the Joker was wasting their time. She just had to be patient.

It had been an easier day than usual at the clinic. She finished on time and left around seven that evening. Instead of going home to see if the Joker was there like she had been all week, she decided to wait there. It had been ten days, it was time for the Joker's stitches to come out. She hung around at a coffee shop until dark then made her way back down the alley to the side door where they first met. Time crawled by slowly. She had been waiting for almost an hour and was about to head home when she heard a breathy giggle from the shadows.

"Well, well. If it isn't doc-tor Noraaa," Joker said, stepping into the light. He wasn't wearing his purple coat or gloves and had his shirt rolled up to his elbows.

Nora thought she'd be ready to see him but the sound of him saying her name made her heart flutter. "H-Hello Joker," she replied, doing her best to remain composed.

Joker grinned as he spoke, "So formal. Call me J, doll."

She blushed. God, why do I keep doing that? "O-Ok, J."

He clapped his hands together. "Ah! Much better. Shall we?" he said, gesturing toward the door and bowing slightly, like he was presenting the next act at a circus.

Nora gulped and focused on the feeling of the Pentobarbital syringe against her skin, which she had tucked into her bra for quick access, as she stared at him. I really hope I don't have to use it. Then, she approached the door and lifted her keys, not turning her back to him. The door swung open and she flicked on the lights.

"It's time for my follow-up doc," Joker said.

Nora's palms were sweating. She was really nervous and she had every right to be. The man in front of her had committed a litany of crimes and was labeled as a madman. She knew this but she just couldn't seem to stay away. It was a rush just to be around him. Her skin prickled with goosebumps when she thought about touching him again.

"Yeah, it is," she said as she stared down at the floor to hide the look in her eyes. Her fingers twitched and she felt a tingling in her stomach. She took a breath, put on a straight face and looked up at the Joker. He had removed his tie and was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt. She took in an soft gasp and quickly turned her head to the side to avert her eyes, rolling them up to the ceiling.

"Like what you see, doll?" he asked, not looking up from the buttons.

Her face burned bright red and her body tensed. "Um. What?" she said, her eyes still on the ceiling. Real smooth, Hawthorne.

Joker giggled. "Relax, doc," he said, shrugging his shirt off his shoulders and tossing it onto an exam table. He hopped up to sit on the table and waited. Nora still stood with her gaze fixed upward. The Joker sucked his teeth, making a popping noise. She gradually turned her head over to look at him. They stared at each other for a moment.

Nora's heart raced as she watched the shirtless Joker slouching on the table, his hands in his lap. Go look at the wound, Nora. She started to approach him. She grabbed a pair of blue exam gloves on her way, not breaking their eye contact, and she slid them over her hands. There was a pounding in her ears that grew louder as she got closer. She stopped in front of him. Both of their eyes trailed down to the sutures in his skin, over the right side of his chest.

The wound's edges met in a clean, secure line. Nora slowly raised her hand and leaned in to touch it. She gently probed the tissue with her finger tips to ensure that the skin had healed together completely. It looked beautiful. She smiled at her handiwork.

"I assume tha-t is a good sign?" Joker asked, poking the upturned corner of her lips.

Nora jumped and opened her mouth when he touched her. She cleared her throat. "Uh, yes. It healed really well." She straightened herself up and opened a drawer to the side of the table, taking out a pair of suture scissors. "I can take the stitches out. It shouldn't hurt but you'll feel a pulling sensation."

"Oh I've had stitches before, doc," he replied.

Ah fuck, that's right. His scars. She swallowed her embarrassment and said, "Oh. I'm so sorry."

Joker darted his tongue out over his lip. "No need to be, uh, sorry, doll." Then he lightly gripped Nora's chin between his thumb and fore finger to tilt her face toward his. Her eyes opened wider and her breathing hitched in her throat. "As you werrre, doc," he said," his voice low and husky. He released her chin. Another wave of goosebumps scurried across her skin.

Nora's trembling hands removed the scissors from their sterile package and positioned them on her fingers. She turned to the Joker and said, "C-Can you lie down?"

He leaned back and rested his right hand behind his head, gazing at the ceiling. His chest rose and fell gently as he breathed, his ribs outlined beneath his skin by the surrounding muscle. He has a nice chest... NOPE! No no no, do not go there, Nora. Focus! After reaching for the exam light mounted above and turning it on, Nora pulled it down to shine the light on the sutures. She brought the scissors to the first stitch and hooked the curved blade under it.*Snip*

She tugged the violet string, removing it from his skin. Moving down the line of sutures, she continued to remove them one by one. Once she finished, she laid the scissors down on the table and stepped back slightly. "Ok, done," she said.

The Joker stretched his arms over his head and sat up with a grunt. He looked down at the new scar. "Ahh, it's love-ly!" he exclaimed and leapt off of the table.

Nora felt flattered. She was always pleased when she could make a wound closure look nice and neat. The question she'd been thinking about for days entered her mind and she couldn't stop herself. "Um. Can I ask you something?" she asked as he picked up his shirt and waistcoat.

He raised his eyebrows. "Hm? What might that be?" he asked.

"Why did you leave money at my apartment?" She looked down at the floor as she spoke, trying not to stare at the Joker sliding his arms into his shirt.

Joker replied, "If you're good at something, never do it for free." He waited for her response.

"Oh! Um. Well, thank you," she said stammered, a small smile forming on her face. I guess I am good at this. She paused. "A-And the card?"

Joker finished with his top shirt button and stopped, leaving his waistcoat open, he walked toward Nora. He got closer, a smirk on his face. She backed up as he approached until her back bumped the wall behind her. He stood in front of her, dropping his head so that their noses almost touched. "Ahhhh well, you see, you work for me now. I need a good doc-tor around. You don't have to leave your job here just yet but you do need to have your nights free for when I'm in need of your, uh, services." He raised his hands and placed them on her shoulders as he spoke. "I told you that you deserve better, doc."

Nora stayed motionless in place, staring into the Joker's eyes as he licked his lips. She figured that was coming. For days, she had been trying to convince herself that she didn't want it. That she wanted things to go back to normal and for Joker to stay out of her life. But she did want it. She wanted to know what it was like on the other side. The side without rules, governed by chaos instead. And she wanted to let the Joker draw her into it.

"Ok," she said.

Joker's mouth curled into a smile to match his permanent one and he squeezed her shoulders. Tilting his chin up and eyes down, he said, "Atta girl." He released her shoulders and started heading for the door. "Await further instructions-ah," he said over his shoulder. Then he opened the door and was gone.

Nora stood for a few seconds, staring at the door. She had completely forgotten about the syringe hidden against her chest. She slowly pulled it out and stared at it. Then she turned to the sharps container and swiftly threw it away.

Song for this chapter: goosebumps by Travis Scott